Event Comment: Mainpiece: With proper Scenes, Dresses and Other Decorations (playbill). Miss Venables (a pupil of Mr Michl Arne) made her first appearance on the Stage in Philadel. She is very Short, & has a mean appearance a tolerable Voice-but little applause Miss Younge Emmeline (first time) So, so (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan's note from Kemble slightly expanded. Reviewer for Town and Country Magazine (Theatre XL) writes of Miss Venables, She displayed but very moderate talents for the stage. She will doubtless improve under so good a master and when she has gained a greater share of maturity will probably do honor to her tutor.'] Receipts: #140 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: A New Pantomime of Mr Messinks went off with great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Music By Dibdin. New Scenes, Habits, and Machines. Nothing under Full Prices will be taken. [Repeated.] Paid 4 days salary list at #85 12s. 11d., #342 11s. 8d.; Miss Mansell on acct #5 5s.; Mr Clinch ditto, #6 6s.; Dr Arne for Mrs Bradley 2 nights per order #5 5s.; Stopages nil (Treasurer's Book). [Full description of the New Pantomime is given in the Westminster Magazine (January 1773): Harlequin born to the Pigmies comes to manhood, gets a job from the Register Office in a Nobleman's family where he meets Colombine. They love, and elope, a chase ensues through several noted places in London, which are detailed in the review. The union of the lovers is finally consended to, and all closes with dancing. "Some of the paintings in the scenery are well executed; and the generality of Mr Dibdin's music deserves equal praise." In it Mrs Wrighten gives a ludicrous imitation of Miss Catley's manner of singing. The reviewer's general thesis about the London stage of this period, given first in the preliminary number, 1 Jan. 1773 continues: "The Stage seems now buried in universal darkness...The Publick for several weeks, has been fed with the lean carcass of two villainous pantomimes."] Receipts: #162 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 7 years [not acted since 18 Sept. 1778. Mrs Brooks is identified in Reed, p. 145]. "Miss George spins around every fifteen seconds like a top, and then runs to the back of the stage. She too is very apt to stay at the back of the stage. She knows when it is her turn to speak, joins the party, speaks, spins, and away again! Pray, Miss George, sometimes do your friends the favour to stay amongst them, and attend to what is going forward" (Morning Chronicle, 24 July)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss George. [Monologue by Charles Stuart {.European Magazine, Sept. 1786, p. 165).] Morning Chronicle, 31 July: Tickets to be had of Miss George, No. 23, King-street, St. Ann's, Soho. Afterpiece: Never performed here

Event Comment: [As afterpiece the playbill announces The Follies of a Day, but "In consequence of an accident to Miss Farren The Follies of a Day was unavoidably postponed, in lieu was represented The Liar [which is also listed in the Account-Book]. Mrs Kemble being indisposed, Miss Collins personated Miss Grantham in a manner which greatly added to Miss Collins's reputation" (Diary, 11 Oct.). And see 10 May 1791.] Receipts: #289 7s. 6d. (239.15.0; 48.7.6; 1.5.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; DO 3, by Prince Hoare, based on Didone Abbandonata, by Pietro Metastasio]: The Musick is chiefly new, and composed by Storace. The Selections are made from the most celebrated works of Salieri, Paer, Rampini, Sacchini, Sarti, Giordani, Cimarosa, Schuster, Andreozzi. The Scenery and Machinery designed by Greenwood and executed by himself and his Pupils. The Dresses of the Tyrians, Trojans and Africans entirely new, and taken from the most accurate descriptions of the Habits of their respective Nations. [Both Miss Barclay and Master Welsh had 1st appeared at the king's oratorios, 24 Feb.]. "A procession was introduced in which an Ostrich, a Dromedary and an Elephant marched to slow music. The Masque, which concluded the opera, was some insipid stuff about Neptune and Nereids, with a representation of the Temple of Neptune. Young Welsh sang prettily in this said Masque" (Morning Herald, 24 May). "[Mara] retained only one song of her Didone [see king's, 14 Feb. 1786]; the brilliant bravura, Son Regina, of Sacchini" (Mount-Edgcumbe, 80). Morning Herald, 28 May 1792: This Day is published Dido (price not listed). Receipts: #244 8s. 6d(213.14.5; 28.15.0; 1.19.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Pope. [Mrs Jordan's 1st appearance as Lady Bell was at this theatre, 21 Apr. 1789.] 3rd piece: To conclude with a Prospect of the Infernal Regions, and a Rain of Fire. Times, 4 May: Tickets to be had of Miss Pope, No. 63, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. Receipts: #318 11s. 6d. (78.0.6; 84.18.0; 4.12.6; tickets: 151.0.6) (charge: #216 8s. 1d.)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Miss Biggs as Angela, but "On account of the sudden indisposition of Miss Biggs, Miss Heard will perform the part of Angela, and hopes for the usual indulgence of the audience" (printed slip attached to Kemble playbill).] Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by Thomas John Dibdin, based on Der Wildfang, by August Ferdinand Friedrich von Kotzebue. Prologue by Miles Peter Andrews (London Chronicle, 4 Feb. 1800)]: The Overture and Musick composed by Kelly [with one selection from Paisiello]. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Receipts: #264 17s. (139.8.6; 122.17.0; 2.11.6)

Event Comment: Benefit Pullen and Mrs Pullen. Afterpiece: a Ballad Opera of Three Acts. [Author unknown.] This Opera, relating to the Affair of Father Girard with Miss Cadiere, &c. is entirely new, being a faithful Translation from the French Original, as it was forbid in Paris

Event Comment: Benefit Miss Norris. Being positively the last Time this Company will ever perform. 7 P.M

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Faulkner. Mainpiece: At the Particular Desire of Several Ladies of Quality. Afterpiece: By Desire. Miss Faulkner playing Polly "for the 1st time." Tickets of Page at the stage door in Bow St., Covent Garden; and of Miss Faulkner at her house in Leicester Fields

Event Comment: Benefit of Settree. Tickets delivered by Mas. Settree and Miss Twist will be taken

Event Comment: LLady Townly a $Miss Hart-Her 1st appearance-Some Applause (Hopkins MS Notes)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never Acted Before. [Printed play, Dublin 1762 lists Talthybius-$Castle; Lycus-$Ackman; Cratander-$Moody; Paeonian-$Fox; Officer-$Scrase; Sigea-$Miss Hippisley.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Beaumont and Fletcher, reviv'd. Afterpiece: Not acted these three years. [See 8 Aug. 1761.] Mr Powell made his first appearance this Night in Philaster. His Reception was very great, he play'd the part amazingly well, & Seems to have Requisites to make a very Capital Performer. N.B. Covent Garden Theater begun to play every Night (Hopkins). Philaster by Mr Powell. Prodigious applause (Cross Diary). This play [Philaster] was wrote by Beaumont and Fletcher, and is now altered by Mr Colman. Mr Powell, a young gentleman clerk to Sir Robert Ladbrook, made his first appearance in the character of Philaster.--A greater reception was never shown to anybody,--he was so very much frightened, he could not speak for some time, and, when he did, the tears ran fast down his cheeks,--but he soon recovered himself, and went through the part with a great deal of nature and feeling,--Continued claps and huzza of bravo! &c. &c. Upon the whole I think him possessed of every requisite necessary to make him an ornament to the stage.--N.B. Mr D. Garrick instructed him in this part--when I see him in another shall be able to judge better of his capabilities.--Miss Pope appeared this Night in the character of Maria in the Citizen,--by endeavoring to be very fine she overdid it,--and it was plain to see she wanted her master. N.B.--Covent Garden began to play of our nights--the first time they ever begin first since Mr Garrick was manager (Hopkins Diary--MacMillan). Receipts: #258 11s. 6d. (MacMillan)